"In the coming year I must do a large painting which will definitely get me recognized for what I truly am, for I want…"

"[T]here's nothing harder in the world than making art, particularly when no one understands it. Women want portraits …"

"It is the most wretched spectacle you can imagine. I won't fight for two reasons: firstly because I have no faith in …"

"I've already done studies [for his large-scale painting w:The Burial at Ornans ] of the mayor, who weighs 400, the pa…"

"It is not often that one encounters so complete an expression of poverty and so, right then and there I got the idea …"

"[I]n our civilized society I must lead the life of a savage. I must free myself even from governments. My sympathies …"

"[I] painted the very people who had been present at the interment, all the townspeople."

"I heard the comments of the crowd in front of the painting of Burial at Ornans, I had the courage to read the nonsens…"

"In spite of being assailed by hypochondria, I have launched into an enormous painting 20 feet by 12, perhaps even big…"

"We finally saw the sea, the horizonless sea – how odd for a mountaindweller. We saw the beautiful boats that sail on …"